Fluid display and converter device



Aug. 2, 1966 w. F. volT, JR

FLUID DISPLAY AND CONVERTER DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1964 BY @MQ u.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,263,922 FLUID DISPLAY AND CONVERTER DEVICE William F'. Voit, Jr., Lexington, Ky., assigner to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 420,929 16 Claims. (Cl. 23S-201) The present invention relates generally to the display and converting arts and more particularly to a device for providing output indications corresponding to fluid input signals. The output indications may take the form of a visual display and/or output signals in a radix which iS different from the radix -o-f the fluid input signals.

There h-as been considerable interest recently in the use of various fluid elements to perform logical functions normally associated with electrical components. Examples of such fluid elements are fluid jet amplifiers and the tape elements disclosed and claimed in my copending patent applications Serial Nos. 421,032 and 4203928, entitled Monostable Fluid Logic Element and Actuator and Bistable Fluid Logic Element, respectively, filed concurrently with this application and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Such fluid elements are relatively fast acting, occupy a minimum of space and can be fabricated at a low cost. The elements can be interconnected to perform logic functions and are highly reliable in the sense they do not we-ar out as do conventional electrical components.

The above advantages have been rather widely recognized in the art and it has previously been suggested to use fluid elements to construct an operator orientated output terminal or computer. In many such machines it is necessary to convert data from a first radix to a second radix and to provide a visual indication to the operator of certain data. The latter may be a visual verification of data entered into the machine by the operator employing a keyboard or may represent the final result of a machine operation. Heretofore, it has been necessary to either omit such a display or converter or employ complicated transducing arrangements for translating fluid input signals to electrical or mechanical signals for -operating conventional display devices or data converters.

Briefly, this invention is concerned with the provision of a fluid display and converter device for directly converting fluid input signals in a first radix to an Output indication, such as a visual display and/or fluid output signals in a second radix. A thin strip or tape of strong flexible material is received in an elongated slot in a housing. Positioned adjacent the slot are a plurality of cavities which have sizes corresp-onding to the coding of the individual positions in a first radix associated with the fluid input signals. The fluid input signals are supplied to actuating ports in the housing for creating pressure gradients extending transversely of the t-ape So that a portion of the tape is deflected into the cavities. Car- Aried by another portion of the tape are output indications,

such as printed material and/or coded representations, which are presented to an output station in accordance with the fluid input signals. The output station comprises an opening for direct viewing of the printed material and/or sensing means f-or providing output signals in accordance with the coded representations on the tape. A resetting cavity having a size at least equal to the value of the largest input signal to be converted is provided in the housing for receiving the tape and resetting the device. The fluid display and converter device has a plurality of stable states and will remain in an actuated or reset conditions even when the fluid input and resetting signals are removed.

ICC

It is the primary or ultimate object of this invention to provide a device for converting fluid input signals to output indications, such las corresponding visual representations and/or output signals. A plurality of cavities are provided in a housing adjacent a thin flexible tape while output indications are carried by the tape. The sizes of the cavities correspond to the coding of the individual positions of the radix of the fluid input signals. The tape is deflected into the cavities in response to the fluid input signals.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a display device which provides a direct reading visual output indication representative of coded fluid input signals. The device is ideally adapted for use in providing a display for the operator of a computer or output terminal employing fluid elements.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluid display and converter device having the characteristics set forth above which is extremely simple in construction and operation. The device is fabricated at low cost employing conventional plastic molding techniques and is highly reliable.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side perspective view showing a fluid display and converter device constructed and operated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side perspective view similar to FIG- URE 1 showing a second embodiment of a fluid display and converter device of this invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a portion of the tape used in the displ-ay and converter device of FIGURE 2 which lbetter illustrates the coded representations of the second radix carried thereby.

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG- URE 1 thereof, the reference numeral 15 designates generally a fluid display and converter device constructed and operated in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The device comprises a housing 16 of plastic or other similar material which is formed with a rounded end portion 17 and a pair of spaced and generally parallel elongated slots 18 and 19. A very thin flexible tape 20 of plastic or metal, such as Mylar or strip steel, for example, is received wit-hin the slots 18 and 19 and extends about the rounded end porti-on 17 of the housing. The ends of the tape 20 Iare rigidly attached or anchored to the housing 16 iby a pair of bolts 21 and 22. The decimal digits zero through nine are printed or otherwise formed at 23 in consecutive order and series relation on an intermediate portion of the tape 20.

Formed within the housing 16 adjacent and in communication with the slot 18 are four generally U-shaped tape receiving actuating cavities 25-28 each having a different size. The device illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings is designed to provide visual output indications coresponding to fluid input signals coded in accordance with the well known lpure binary coding scheme. Thus, actuating cavity 25 has a certain size or depth to produce a unit movement of the tape equal to the space occupied by and associated with one of the numeric characters 23 on the intermediate portion of the tape 20 when the tape is deflected into this cavity. Actuating cavity 26 has a size which produces twice the movement of the tape as compared to cavity 25. Similarly, actuating cavities 27 and 28 have sizes that cause four and eight times the tape movement as actuating cavity 25, respectively. Although cavity 2S causes eight times the movement of the tape as cavity 2S, its depth is only four times as great since the tape is looped in the cavities :and this general relationship exists relative to the other cavities as is apparent. Also formed in the housing 16 and communicating with the slot 18 on the opposite side of the tape 2t) from the cavities 25-28 are four fluid input ports Sil-33. These input ports are connected by any suitable conduit means 34 to a valved source 35 of serial binary fluid input signals to be converted.

Adjacent the end of slot 19 is a resetting cavity 36 which has a size or depth that produces a movement of the tape corresponding to the weighted value of the largest input signal to be converted. In the apparatus of FIGURE l of the drawings, the resetting cavity has a size or depth which causes a tape movement equal to nine times the tape movement provided by -unit input actuating cavity 25. A reset port 37 is connected with a valved source 38 of fluid under pressure. The bottoms of the actuating and resetting cavities -28 and 36 are exhausted to atmosphere by exhaust ports 40. A molded face plate 4l is nestingly received over the intermediate portion of the tape 2t) and the rounded end portion 17 `of housing 16. The face plate 41 has a window-like opening 42 therein so that only' one of the numeric characters 23 on the tape 15 is visible land displayed at a time.

In the initial or reset condition of the device, slack in the tape 20 is looped and completely received within the resetting cavity 36. The amount of slack in the tape equals the amount of tape which can be deflected into cavity 25 times the largest number to be converted which, in the illustrated embodiment, is nine. The tape extends across the tops of and is not `received in any of the actuating cavities 25-28 while the numeric character zero appears in the window-like opening 42 in the face plate 4l. When it is desired to perform a conversion operation and provide a visual output indication corresponding to binary fluid input signals, the valved source 35 is iactuated and the fluid input signals are applied in serial fashion to the kappropriate yones of input ports -33. The tape is moved from the resetting cavity 36 and into one or more of the coded cavities 25-28 whereby the numeric characte-r 23 corresponding to the fluid input signals is displayed at the window-'like opening 42 in the face plate 41.

While the fluid input signals are applied in serial fashion, preferably low order first, in this embodiment of the invention, they may be applied in parallel to the input ports providing the friction on the tape between adjacent activating cavities is reduced to a point where it does not interfere with proper operation of the device.

If fluid input signals are lsupplied in series only to ports 31 and 32 so that the tape is partially pulled from resetting cavity 36 and deflected into actuating cavities 26 and 27, the numeric character six will be displayed. The manner is which binary fluid input signals corresponding to the deciminal digits zero to nine are converted and displayed is set forth in tabular form below with the symbol X indicating the presence of a fluid ininput pulse:

After each conversion and display operation, the valved source 38 lof fluid under pressure is actuated to supply a fluid pulse to reset port 37. This causes the tape to resume its original condition with all slack received in the resetting cavity 36 and the numeric character zero displayed in the window-like opening 42 in the face plate 41. It is preferred that the device be reset after each conversion and display operation but it is possible to operate the device in a non-return-to-Zero mode. In this mode, the fluid input signal are applied to the input ports 30-33 and maintained while the valved source 38 of fluid under pressure is actuated to supply a fluid pulse to reset port 37. After the fluid pulse at the reset port has been removed, the imput ports are effectively disconnected from the source of binary fluid input signals 35.

The display and converter device has a plurality of stable states because the tape remains in an actuated or reset position after the fluid input or resetting signals are removed. This is accomplished 'by making the tape 20 relatively thin and mounting the same at both ends so the tape does not return to its initial state when the fluid input yand resetting signals are removed as is fully explained in my above mentioned co-pending patent applications. The exhaust ports 40 communicating with the bottoms of the actuating cavities 25-28 and resetting cavity 36 prevent the entrapment of fluid and the build up of fluid pressure between the bottoms of the cavities and the tape so that the tape moves very quickly and smoothly into the selected cavity or cavities.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a display and converter device 43 which not only provides a visual indication corresponding to fluid input signals but also permits reading out of fluid signals in a different radix from the radix of the input signals. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition in the specification, like portions and parts of the various embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals lalthough those used in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings are primed. Only those portions and parts of the second embodiment which are different will be described in detail in the speciflcation.

The slot 18 in the housing 16' has a portion 45 disposed between the actuating cavities 25-28 and the face plate 41 which is wider than the remaining portion of the slot. The tape 20 is also provided with a portion 46 of greater width which is movable in the wider portion 45 of the slot 18. Carried Iby the portion 46 of the tape are a plurality of additional output indications which, in this instance, comprises a plurality of transversely extending rows of coded apertures 47. Each of the rows of apertures 47 is associated with one of the fluid input signals to be converted and the spacing between adjacent rows is equal to the amount of tape that can be deflected into the actuating cavity 25.

Located in the housing 16 approximately in the middle of the length of the wider portion 45 of the tape slot 18' is a sensing means comprising four pairs of sensing ports 48-51 arranged in generally transversely aligned and spaced relation. Each pair of sensing ports comprises an upper port and a lower port disposed in vertically aligned relation on opposite sides and transversely of the tape. The lower ports all communicate with a common passageway 52 that is connected to a valved source 53 of fluid under pressure. The upper ports are connected with a fluid responsive device 54 by any suitable conduit means.

The operation of the fluid display and `converting device is such when fluid input signals are applied to the input ports 30-33 to cause the deflection of the tape into selected ones of the `actuating cavities 25-28, a corresponding one of the rows of coded -apertures 47 in the wider portion 46 of the tape 20 is moved into alignment with the sensing means. The apertures 47 in the tape are positioned between the upper and lower ports and fluid output signals corresponding to the fluid input signals are produced when the source 53 of fluid v under pressure is actuated. Also, the numerical character which has been converted is displayed in the windowlike opening 42 of the face plate 41. Both a visual display and coded Huid output signals representative of the uid input signals are provided. The device is reset before each converting and display operation by applying fluid under pressure to reset port 37 .and forcing the slack in the tape into resetting cavity 36.

The coding scheme used for the apertures in the tape 20 is Ia matter of choice and can be selected as required for any given application. For example, the coding scheme can be the same as the coding of the input signals to permit uid read out of the visually displayed information at a later time. Alternately, the coding scheme in the tape can -be completely different from that of the in- Yput signals to provide for conversion between two number systems. For example, the output signals can be coded in accordance with 'a non-ambiguous Grey code. Such an arrangement is shown in the device of FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings and set forth in tabular form below:

FLUID Input signals Number Actuating .Aotuating Actuating Actnating Displayed Cavity 28 Cavity 27 Cavity 26 Cavity 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 X t) 0 0 X X 0 X 0 0 0 X 0 X 0 X X 0 0 X X X X 0 0 0 X 0 0 X FLUID Output signals Number Sensing Sensing Sensing Sensing Displayed Port 48 Port 49 Port 50 Port 5l 0 0 0 0 0 0 X` 0 0 X X 0 0 X X X 0 0 X X 0 0 0 X 0 X 0 X 0 X 0 0 X X 0 0 X X X 0 The movement of the tape into a cavity is caused by tion. Alternately, the exhaust port can be normally blocked and Huid under pressure always supplied to the input port. A condition of pressure equilibrium exists and the tape remains in its unactuated state until the exhaust port is open to create the deecting pressure gradient. Conversion or display would be accomplished Iby controlling the opening and closing of the exhaust ports in accordance .with the input signals. Still another manner of providing the pressure gradient across the tape to deflect the same into a cavity is to apply vacuum to the exhaust port. Obviously, yany controllable method of creating a pressure gradient across the tape to move the same into a cavity can be employed in the display and converter device of the'present invention.

It should be apparent that the display and converter device of this invention is extremely versatile. Visual information corresponding to input signals is displayed inY take any form as required in a given application, such as characters, words, pictures or symbols. Means for converting uid input signals to corresponding output signals are provided which m-ay be used in combination with or independently of the visual display. The coded apertures in the tape and the tiuid sensing means can be replaced by equivalent coding and sensing systems operating on optical, magnetic or electrical principles if this is found desirable.

While the fluid display and converter devices shown in the dnawings are limited to the conversion of the numbers zero to nine, the converting and display capacities can be increased by employing larger or more cavities, including more actuating cavities having sizes corresponding to the coding of additional digits of the input signals and increasing the lengths of the tapes. It is important to note that the actuating cavities have diierent sizes to receive different lengths of the tape. rlhis can be accomplished by regulating the length and overall configuration of the cavities as well as the depth thereof. The generally U-shaped arrangement of the tape in the housing with the actuating and resetting cavities arranged in nesting relation adjacent the ends of the tape provides Vdisplay and converter devices which are relatively small ldescribed with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the Qforegoing and other changes inform and details may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope Vof the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A device for providing output indications corresponding to input signals comprising:

a housing having an elongated thin slot therein; a tiexible tape movably received in saidi slot and having at least one end stationarily mounted relative to said housing;

a plurality of actuating cavities in said housing disposed adjacent said slot for receiving portions of said tape;

a source of coded input signals wherein each signal represents a diiferent value;

means responsive to each of said input signals for creating a pressure gradient extending transversely of said ytape for'deftecting said tape into the associated one of said actuating cavities and causing movement of said tape; and

each of saidactuating cavities having a size corresponding to the value of the associated input signal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized by: o

a Iresetting cavity in said housing adjacent said slot;

said Aresetting cavity having a size at least equal to the value of the largest combined value of said input signals; and

4means for generating a pressure gradient transversely of said tape adjacent said resetting cavity for delfleeting said tape into said resetting cavity.

kSi. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized 6. A device for providing output indications vcorrespending to fluid input signals comprising:

a housing having an elongated slot therein;

a exible tape movably received in said slot and having at least one end stationarily mounted relative to said housing;

a plurality of actuating cavities in said housing disposed adjacent said slot for receiving portions of said tape;

a source of coded uid input signals wherein each signal represents la different value;

a plurality of input ports communicating with said slot adjacent s-aid actuating cavities on the opposite side of said tape from said actuating cavities;

means interconnecting said source of coded Huid input signals and said input ports for creating for each of said input signals 'a uid pressure gradient extending transversely of said tape for deflecting said tape into an associated one of said actuating cavities and causing movement of said tape; .and

each of said actuating cavities hav-ing a size corresponding to the value of the associated input signal.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized by:

a resetting cavity in said housing adjacent said slot having a size at least equal to the value of the largest combined value of said input signals; and

luid means fior generating a pressure gradient transversely of said tape adjacent said resetting cavity or deilecting said tape into said resetting cavity.

8. Apparatus `according to claim 7 further characterized by:

said elongated slot and said tape being generally U- shaped to define a pair of arm portions rfor said tape;

said actuating cavities being positioned adjacent one arm portion ott said tape; and

said resetting cavity being positioned adjacent the other arm portion of said tape.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 further charactersaid actuating cavities and said resetting cavity being disposed in generally transverse relation with respect to eachother.

10. A device for providing output indications conresponding to uid input signals comprising:

a housing having an elongated slot therein;

a exible tape movably received in said slot and having at least one end stationarily mounted relative to said housing;

a plurality of' actuating cavities in said housing disposed adjacent said slot for receiving portions of said tape;

a source of coded uid input signals wherein each signal represents a ditterent value;

ak plurality of input ports communicating with said slot adjacent said actuating cavities on the opposite side of said tape from said actuating cavities;

means interconnecting said source of coded iiuidinput signals and said input ports for creating for each of said input signals a fluid pressure gradient extending transversely of said tape for deiiecting said tape into the associated one of said actuating cavities and causing movement of said tape;

each of said actuating cavities havin-g a size corresponding to the value of the associated input signal; and

output indications carried by said tape corresponding to said input signals.

` 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 further characterized by: t

said output indications comprising rows olf coded indicia;

a sensing station; and

means to sense said indicia at said sensing station and provide output signals corresponding thereto.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 further characterized by:

said coded indicia comprising apertures in said tape;

said means to sense comprising a plurality of fluid sensing ports; and

means to supply fluid to said sensing ports to determine the presence of said apertures.

13. A display device for providing visual display cor.

responding to input signals comprising:

a housing having an elongated thin slot therein;

a ilexible tape movably received in said slot and having at least one end stationarily mounted relative to said housing;

a plurality off actuating cavities in said housing disposed adjacent said slot for receiving portions of 1said tape;

a source of input signals;

means responsive to each of said input signals for creating a pressure gradient extending transversely lof said tape for deliecting said tape into an associated one of said actuating cavities;

a plurality `of visual data items carried by another portion of said tape with each item associated with one of said input signals;

an output station; and

said 'visual data items being displayed at said output station in accordance with the input signals supplied to said means responsive.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 further characterized by:

each of said actuating cavities having a different size.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 further characterized by:

a resetting cavity in said housing disposed adjacent said slot;

said resetting cavity having a size at least equal to the value of the largest combined value of said input signals; and

means for generating a pressure gradient extending transversely orf said tape adjacent said resetting cavity for deflecting said tape into said resetting cavity.

16. A display device for providing visual display corresponding to input signals comprising:

a housing having an elongated slot therein;

a flexible tape movably received in said slot and having at least one end stationarily mounted relative to said housing;

at least one actuating cavity in said housing disposed adjacent said slot for receiving portions of said tape;

a source of input signals;

means responsive to said input signals for creating a pressure gradient extending transversely of said tape for deecting said tape into said actuating cavity;

a plurality of visual data items carried by another portion of said tape;

an output station; and

said visual data items being displayed at said output station in accordance With the input signals supplied to said means responsive.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,077,962 4/ 1937 Smith 23S-200 2,444,549 7/ 1948 Anderson 23S-61 2,889,109 6/1959 OBrieal 235--200 2,892,379 6/ 1959 Cooper 352-166 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Lynott 137-552.5 595,554 10/ 1925 France.

Litz 23S-201 837,822 2/ 1939 France.

Etter 137-5525 5 Rooks et al. 235 61 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Przmary Examiner. Wodey 23S-201 LEO SMILOW, W. F. BAUER, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A DEVICE FOR PROVIDING OUTPUT INDICATIONS CORRESPONDING TO INPUT SIGNALS COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING AN ELONGATED THIN SLOT THEREIN; A FLEXIBLE TAPE MOVABLE RECEIVED IN SAID SLOT AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE END STATIONARILY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING; A PLURALITY OF ACTUATING CAVITIES IN SAID HOUSING DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SLOT FOR RECEIVING PORTIONS OF SAID TAPE; A SOURCE OF CODED INPUT SIGNALS WHEREIN EACH SIGNAL REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT VALUE; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO EACH OF SAID INPUT SIGNALS FOR CREATING A PRESSURE GRADIENT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID TAPE FOR DEFLECTING SAID TAPE INTO THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID ACTUATING CAVITIES AND CAUSING MOVEMENT OF SAID TAPE; AND EACH OF SAID ACTUATING CAVITIES HAVING A SIZE CORRESPONDING TO THE VALUE OF THE ASSOCIATED INPUT SIGNAL. 